The usual quiet countryside portion of southern Bexar County was awakened by the roar of stock car engines on Friday night when San Antonio Speedway reopened after having been closed for the past 5½ years.

Billed at the 11th Octoberfast event, more than 100 stock car drivers from across South Texas filled the infield pit area with their cars and race haulers. Many of the drivers were veteran racers who once raced at the half-mile speedway before it closed in March 2007. However, a large percent of them were newcomers who had never raced at the 35-year old facility.

Friday’s action featured two-lap qualifying time trials for the Modified and the Late Model classes. The event also featured heat races for the Chargers, Street Stocks and the Truck classes. The event was highlighted by a 25-lap Grand Stock feature race.

The action continues on Saturday at 4:55 p.m. with a 25-lap feature race for the Lonestar Legacies. The opening ceremonies are set for 5:55 p.m. The feature races start at 6 p.m. and will include Chargers (35 laps), Street Stocks (50 laps), Trucks (75 laps), Late Models (100 laps) and Modifieds (75 laps).

During qualifying time trails, Mark Chrudimsky was the fastest qualifier during time trials after he posted a 19.582-second lap in his #39 Modified race car. Austin Self qualified second with a 19.689, followed by Bayley Currey in third with a 19.700, Joe Aramendia in fourth with a 19.717 and Johnny Walker in fifth with a 19.801.

Dillon Spreen gets ready for qualifying on Friday at San Antonio Speedway. Spreen was the 11th fastest after being clocked at 19.131 seconds. He will compete in the 100-lap Late Model race on Saturday night. Photo by Mike Haag/San Antonio Express-News

In the Late Model class, Chris Davidson topped the field with a blistering 18.668-second lap. Brandon Bendele, a multi-time former champion at SAS, qualified second at 18.669. Bendele was followed by Stephan McCurley in third at 18.698, Casey Smith in fourth at 18.707 and Joe Aramendia in fifth at 18.800.

In the 25-lap Grand Stock race Marcia Moore held off 11-car field to take the checkered flag. Moore started seventh on the grid and had to work her way through the field.

Mark Chrudimsky finished a close second, followed by Floyd Reed in third, Mike Farish in fourth and Les Bettis in fifth.